18G5.] Notes of a tour in the Tributary Mehals. 31 



predominating feature in the revenue system of all the Tributary 

 Mehals, and will no doubt be found to prevail in all parts of Hindu- 

 stan where ancient landmarks have not been swept away by the tide 

 of conquest. In these mehals, the great mass of the cultivators are 

 the descendants of those who first occupied and tilled the soil, and to 

 them, (says Malcolm in his Central India,) according to the most 

 revered texts of the sacred writers, the soil in the first instance belongs ; 

 and where a monarchy or chieftainship is by some process eliminated, 

 the peasant proprietor contributes for the support of the sovereign a 

 moderate share of the produce of his land. This accounts for the 

 lowness of rates of rents that prevail in these districts. The actual 

 rent does not exceed 2 annas a beegah in Sirgoojah, and this is un- 

 changeable. It probably represents the proportion of the produce first 

 assigned to the chief, and both the cultivating classes and heads of 

 villages in this province are exceedingly tenacious of their right to 

 pay no more than one fixed rate of rent. The hereditary village head- 

 man pays no more on this account, and collects no more than the old 

 fixed rate, but it does not now suffice for the requirements of the chief, 

 and as noticed before in treating of Grangpore, a practice has arisen of 

 giving as an ordinary contribution, a sum equal to the amount paid as 

 rent, whilst extraordinary contributions are often exacted, and demands 

 made for unpaid labour, which must greatly hamper the productive 

 industry of the cultivators. In Sirgoojah I asked the Rajah and 

 zemindars if all these irregular demands could not be done away with 

 and a fair fixed rent taken in lieu. They expressed their willingness 

 to abide by any arrangement of the kind that I could make, but refer- 

 red me to the rent-payers and village headmen. They, with one con- 

 sent, refused to acquiesce in any enhancement of rent. 



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